About Tony Penning

Tony started climbing in 1970 when he was a member of the RAF Mountain Rescue team. His first year, based in the Peak District established his life long passion for climbing.

As soon as Tony first touched rock he knew this was where his destiny lay. Within a very short period of time he was tackling long and adventurous routes with very little experience.

In 1971 he met a like minded soul, Pete Cresswell who was to be his constant companion for 18 years. During their time together they climbed many difficult climbs both in the UK and the Alps and this included numerous first ascents. One of their most memorable was the Bonatti Pillar on the Dru, which has since fallen down!

In 1989 a change in circumstances led to Tony taking a 3 year break from climbing.

He was tempted back by two climbs he couldn’t say no to. The first The Scoop on Sron Ulladale in the Outer Hebrides. The second a major new, big wall climb on a remote face in Greenland. He succeeded on both.

Over the next ten years Tony climbed such notable routes as Mescalito on El Cap in Yosemite, The Brandler Hasse on the North Face of the Cima Grande, The Titan near Moab in Utah, and The Cruise in the Black Canyon in Colorado. He also returned to Greenland adding two major, new free climbs. In the same period Tony continued with his obsession for new rock on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc range and has now pioneered over 35 climbs up to E5 on this dark side of the Alps.

In recent years Tony has added Spain and Sardinia as must climb places but he still enjoys coming home to climb at his local venue, the Wye valley. Over the last 30 years Tony has contributed and authored guide books in South Wales and the South-West and was part of the team that produced the new Lower Wye Valley and Symonds Yat Guides. In 2011/ 2012 Tony pioneered over 25 new climbs on the rugged sea cliffs of Cornwall. In July of 2012 Tony produced four new alpine climbs one of them a previously unclimbed rock peak of 750 metres.

Tony has been instructing climbing for 15 years holds the Mountain Instructor Award and is sponsored by Sub Zero Technology.